Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an eyelet arrangement for use with a swimming pool having a plastic liner which permits the part having the eye to be removed to allow changing of the plastic liner without requiring access to the outside of the wall.
2. The Prior Art
The patent to Engelhart U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,732 shows a device for accomplishing the same function as the present invention. The device of Engelhart however is quite expensive, as it involves the use of an externally and internally threaded sleeve having a large flange at one end, the making of which requires a number of costly operations.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a much less complicated and less expensive arrangement which accomplishes the same result as that of Engelhart, namely to permit the removal of an eye member and the exchange of a plastic liner in the pool without requiring access to the outside of the pool wall. In many cases, when the pool is completed, the outer nut is inaccessable because of a concrete deck having been installed around the pool.
A further advantage over the Engelhart device is that the present arrangement requires only a 1/2 inch hole through the wall, whereas Engelhart's device, for substantially the same size unit, requires the cutting of a 3/4 inch hole. Thus the present arrangement can be installed with less expensive equipment, and equipment which is more often used on the job.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows in an exploded view an eyelet arrangement embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 shows the device assembled in the wall of a pool; and
FIG. 3 shows a modification for application to a round nose coping.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the device comprises a stem member having a smaller portion 2 and an enlarged portion 4 at one end. The stem and the enlarged portion are both externally threaded. A nut 6 is threadable on the smaller portion 2 of the stem. An eye part 8 having an eye 10 is also provided, the eye part comprising an internally threaded socket which is capable of being threaded on the enlarged portion 4 of the stem and an eyelet portion rigid therewith.
In using this device, for example, in connection with a pool having a metal wall or a wall of any other material 12 and a plastic liner 14, a hole 16 is bored in the wall 12 of a size which is just large enough to receive the narrow portion of the stem. After the liner is installed and the pool is filled with water, a hole 18 is cut in the liner which is large enough to allow the enlarged portion of the stem 4 to project through the liner.
A washer 26, which is larger than the hole 18 in the liner is then applied over the larger portion and the socket part 8 is threaded on the larger portion 4, thus compressing the washer 26 against the liner 14 and holding the liner in place. If the liner needs replacement for any reason, it can be replaced without the rope anchor being an impediment in performing this task, since it can easily be removed to allow the old liner to come out and a new liner to be fitted as originally done.
With reference to FIG. 3, in some pools there is a round nose coping at the upper edge of the pool to which some pool builders may elect to attach this device. This can be accomplished as shown in FIG. 3 by using a washer 28 with a round recess 30 fitting against the nose of the coping.